Best Applied Physics Universities in the World [2026 Rankings]

1

United States | Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Applied Physics

#1 in North America #1 in United States

5% Acceptance

4,535 Enrollment

1550 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

2

United States | California

University of California – Berkeley

For Applied Physics

#2 in North America #2 in United States

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

3

United Kingdom | England

University of Cambridge

For Applied Physics

#1 in Europe #1 in United Kingdom

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

4

China | Beijing

Tsinghua University

For Applied Physics

#1 in Asia #1 in China

22% Acceptance

48,739 Enrollment

1911 Founded

5

United States | California

Stanford University

For Applied Physics

#3 in North America #3 in United States

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

6

Japan | Tokyo

University of Tokyo

For Applied Physics

#2 in Asia #1 in Japan

36% Acceptance

28,918 Enrollment

1877 Founded

7

United States | Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

For Applied Physics

#4 in North America #4 in United States

61% Acceptance

42,604 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

8

Switzerland | Lausanne

Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

For Applied Physics

#2 in Europe #1 in Switzerland

23% Acceptance

12,576 Enrollment

9

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Applied Physics

#5 in North America #5 in United States

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

10

Japan | Kyoto

Kyoto University

For Applied Physics

#3 in Asia #2 in Japan

11% Acceptance

22,365 Enrollment

1897 Founded

11

United States | California

University of California – Los Angeles

For Applied Physics

#6 in North America #6 in United States

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

12

United States | Texas

University of Texas at Austin

For Applied Physics

#7 in North America #7 in United States

27% Acceptance

43,165 Enrollment

1380 Avg SAT

1883 Founded

13

United States | Georgia, US

Georgia Institute of Technology

For Applied Physics

#8 in North America #8 in United States

14% Acceptance

1,070 Enrollment

1455 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

14

United States | California

California Institute of Technology

For Applied Physics

#9 in North America #9 in United States

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

15

United States | Michigan

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

For Applied Physics

#10 in North America #10 in United States

16% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1445 Avg SAT

1817 Founded

16

Japan | Sendai

Tohoku University

For Applied Physics

#4 in Asia #3 in Japan

30% Acceptance

17,975 Enrollment

1907 Founded

17

United States | Indiana

Purdue University

For Applied Physics

#11 in North America #11 in United States

50% Acceptance

44,819 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

18

United Kingdom | England

University of Oxford

For Applied Physics

#3 in Europe #2 in United Kingdom

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

19

Singapore | Singapore City

Nanyang Technological University

For Applied Physics

#5 in Asia #1 in Singapore

38% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1955 Founded

20

Japan | Suita

Osaka University

For Applied Physics

#6 in Asia #4 in Japan

13% Acceptance

23,234 Enrollment

1931 Founded

21

United Kingdom | England

University of Manchester

For Applied Physics

#4 in Europe #3 in United Kingdom

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

22

United States | Maryland

University of Maryland – College Park

For Applied Physics

#12 in North America #12 in United States

45% Acceptance

31,133 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

23

United States | New York State

Cornell University

For Applied Physics

#13 in North America #13 in United States

9% Acceptance

16,128 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

24

Japan | Tokyo

Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Applied Physics

#8 in Asia #5 in Japan

10% Acceptance

6,551 Enrollment

1881 Founded

25

United Kingdom | England

Imperial College London

For Applied Physics

#5 in Europe #4 in United Kingdom

41% Acceptance

17,565 Enrollment

1907 Founded

26

United States | Illinois

Northwestern University

For Applied Physics

#14 in North America #14 in United States

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

27

China | Guangzhou

South China University of Technology

For Applied Physics

#9 in Asia #3 in China

30% Acceptance

42,720 Enrollment

1952 Founded

28

Singapore | Singapore City

National University of Singapore

For Applied Physics

#10 in Asia #2 in Singapore

20% Acceptance

30,098 Enrollment

1905 Founded

29

China | Changchun

Jilin University

For Applied Physics

#11 in Asia #4 in China

30% Acceptance

68,000 Enrollment

1946 Founded

30

China | Shanghai

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

For Applied Physics

#12 in Asia #5 in China

20% Acceptance

47,000 Enrollment

1896 Founded

31

Australia | Sydney

University of New South Wales

For Applied Physics

#1 in Oceania #1 in Australia

60% Acceptance

63,864 Enrollment

1949 Founded

32

United States | California

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Applied Physics

#15 in North America #15 in United States

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

33

China | Nanjing

Nanjing University

For Applied Physics

#13 in Asia #6 in China

24% Acceptance

56,068 Enrollment

1902 Founded

34

United States | Ohio

Ohio State University

For Applied Physics

#16 in North America #16 in United States

61% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

35

China | Wuhan

Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Applied Physics

#14 in Asia #7 in China

26% Acceptance

71,970 Enrollment

1953 Founded

36

United States | Michigan

Michigan State University

For Applied Physics

#17 in North America #17 in United States

85% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

37

China | Hangzhou

Zhejiang University

For Applied Physics

#15 in Asia #8 in China

20% Acceptance

60,739 Enrollment

1897 Founded

38

China | Hefei

University of Science and Technology of China

For Applied Physics

#16 in Asia #9 in China

10% Acceptance

17,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

39

United States | Illinois

University of Chicago

For Applied Physics

#18 in North America #18 in United States

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

40

United States | Arizona

Arizona State University – Tempe

For Applied Physics

#19 in North America #19 in United States

90% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

970 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

41

United States | North Carolina

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

For Applied Physics

#20 in North America #20 in United States

42% Acceptance

28,422 Enrollment

1385 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

42

China | Beijing

Peking University

For Applied Physics

#17 in Asia #10 in China

21% Acceptance

44,730 Enrollment

1898 Founded

43

Denmark | Kongens Lyngby

Technical University of Denmark

For Applied Physics

#6 in Europe #1 in Denmark

38% Acceptance

33,020 Enrollment

1829 Founded

44

United States | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin – Madison

For Applied Physics

#21 in North America #21 in United States

45% Acceptance

38,040 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1848 Founded

45

United States | Washington

University of Washington – Seattle

For Applied Physics

#22 in North America #22 in United States

39% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

46

China | Shanghai

Fudan University

For Applied Physics

#18 in Asia #11 in China

18% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1905 Founded

47

United States | New Jersey

Princeton University

For Applied Physics

#23 in North America #23 in United States

5% Acceptance

5,813 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1746 Founded

48

United States | California

University of California-San Diego

For Applied Physics

#24 in North America #24 in United States

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

49

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

For Applied Physics

#25 in North America #25 in United States

5% Acceptance

1,947 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1740 Founded

50

China | Hong Kong

University of Hong Kong

For Applied Physics

#19 in Asia #12 in China

17% Acceptance

21,652 Enrollment

1911 Founded

51

United States | California

University of California – Davis

For Applied Physics

#26 in North America #26 in United States

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

52

Belgium | Leuven

Catholic University of Leuven

For Applied Physics

#7 in Europe #1 in Belgium

33% Acceptance

62,693 Enrollment

1425 Founded

53

Germany | North Rhine-Westphalia

RWTH Aachen University

For Applied Physics

#8 in Europe #1 in Germany

35% Acceptance

47,521 Enrollment

1870 Founded

54

United States | Minnesota

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

For Applied Physics

#27 in North America #27 in United States

80% Acceptance

15,019 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

55

United States | Virginia

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

For Applied Physics

#28 in North America #28 in United States

55% Acceptance

31,035 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

56

Netherlands | Delft

Delft University of Technology

For Applied Physics

#9 in Europe #1 in Netherlands

50% Acceptance

24,703 Enrollment

1842 Founded

57

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

For Applied Physics

#10 in Europe #2 in Germany

26% Acceptance

23,321 Enrollment

2009 Founded

58

United Kingdom | England

University College London

For Applied Physics

#11 in Europe #5 in United Kingdom

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

59

United States | Massachusetts

Harvard University

For Applied Physics

#29 in North America #29 in United States

4% Acceptance

1,489 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1636 Founded

60

United States | New York State

Stony Brook University

For Applied Physics

#30 in North America #30 in United States

49% Acceptance

18,263 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

61

Switzerland | Zurich

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

For Applied Physics

#12 in Europe #2 in Switzerland

8% Acceptance

23,420 Enrollment

62

Canada | Ontario

University of Toronto

For Applied Physics

#31 in North America #1 in Canada

54% Acceptance

102,431 Enrollment

1827 Founded

63

United States | Iowa State

Iowa State University

For Applied Physics

#32 in North America #31 in United States

89% Acceptance

25,628 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1858 Founded

64

United Kingdom | England

University of Nottingham

For Applied Physics

#13 in Europe #6 in United Kingdom

32% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1948 Founded

65

Canada | Ontario

University of Waterloo

For Applied Physics

#33 in North America #2 in Canada

54% Acceptance

16,092 Enrollment

1957 Founded

66

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

University of Stuttgart

For Applied Physics

#14 in Europe #3 in Germany

48% Acceptance

22,616 Enrollment

1829 Founded

67

United States | Florida

University of Florida

For Applied Physics

#34 in North America #32 in United States

24% Acceptance

36,573 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

68

Japan | Nagoya

Nagoya University

For Applied Physics

#20 in Asia #6 in Japan

14% Acceptance

15,959 Enrollment

1939 Founded

69

China | Harbin

Harbin Institute of Technology

For Applied Physics

#21 in Asia #13 in China

16% Acceptance

33,496 Enrollment

1920 Founded

70

China | Shanghai

Tongji University

For Applied Physics

#22 in Asia #14 in China

29% Acceptance

37,000 Enrollment

1907 Founded

71

Germany | Bavaria

Technical University of Munich

For Applied Physics

#15 in Europe #4 in Germany

46% Acceptance

44,000 Enrollment

1868 Founded

72

China | Tianjin

Tianjin University

For Applied Physics

#23 in Asia #15 in China

34% Acceptance

35,370 Enrollment

1895 Founded

73

United States | Texas

Texas A&M University – College Station

For Applied Physics

#35 in North America #33 in United States

57% Acceptance

60,710 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

74

France | Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes

Claude Bernard University Lyon 1

For Applied Physics

#16 in Europe #1 in France

15% Acceptance

38,007 Enrollment

1809 Founded

75

United States | Arizona

University of Arizona

For Applied Physics

#36 in North America #34 in United States

86% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

76

France | Ile-de-France

Pierre and Marie Curie University

For Applied Physics

#17 in Europe #2 in France

20% Acceptance

35,114 Enrollment

1150 Founded

77

United Kingdom | England

University of Southampton

For Applied Physics

#18 in Europe #7 in United Kingdom

32% Acceptance

21,335 Enrollment

1952 Founded

78

China | Beijing

Beijing Institute of Technology

For Applied Physics

#24 in Asia #16 in China

29% Acceptance

27,000 Enrollment

1940 Founded

79

China | Beijing

University of Science and Technology Beijing

For Applied Physics

#25 in Asia #17 in China

34% Acceptance

25,000 Enrollment

1952 Founded

80

South Korea | Seoul

Seoul National University

For Applied Physics

#26 in Asia #1 in South Korea

20% Acceptance

28,378 Enrollment

1946 Founded

81

China | Hong Kong

City University of Hong Kong

For Applied Physics

#27 in Asia #18 in China

36% Acceptance

34,156 Enrollment

1984 Founded

82

United States | Texas

University of Houston

For Applied Physics

#37 in North America #35 in United States

74% Acceptance

39,257 Enrollment

1250 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

83

China | Beijing

Beihang University

For Applied Physics

#28 in Asia #19 in China

37% Acceptance

27,000 Enrollment

1952 Founded

84

United States | New Jersey

Rutgers University – New Brunswick

For Applied Physics

#38 in North America #36 in United States

58% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1405 Avg SAT

1766 Founded

85

Germany | Bavaria

University of Bayreuth

For Applied Physics

#19 in Europe #5 in Germany

30% Acceptance

12,773 Enrollment

1972 Founded

86

China | Tianjin

Nankai University

For Applied Physics

#29 in Asia #20 in China

37% Acceptance

26,568 Enrollment

1919 Founded

87

China | Changsha

Central South University

For Applied Physics

#30 in Asia #21 in China

77% Acceptance

52,000 Enrollment

1914 Founded

88

Japan | Fukuoka

Kyushu University

For Applied Physics

#31 in Asia #7 in Japan

14% Acceptance

18,813 Enrollment

1911 Founded

89

United States | New York State

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

For Applied Physics

#39 in North America #37 in United States

63% Acceptance

5,741 Enrollment

1443 Avg SAT

1824 Founded

90

China | Wuhan

Wuhan University of Technology

For Applied Physics

#32 in Asia #22 in China

60% Acceptance

540,000 Enrollment

1946 Founded

91

United Kingdom | England

University of Birmingham

For Applied Physics

#20 in Europe #8 in United Kingdom

38% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1900 Founded

92

Sweden | Uppsala

Uppsala University

For Applied Physics

#21 in Europe #1 in Sweden

69% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1477 Founded

93

United States | Colorado

University of Colorado Boulder

For Applied Physics

#40 in North America #38 in United States

78% Acceptance

34,096 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

94

United States | Tennessee

University of Tennessee – Knoxville

For Applied Physics

#41 in North America #39 in United States

42% Acceptance

30,564 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1794 Founded

95

China | Guangzhou

Sun Yat – Sen University

For Applied Physics

#33 in Asia #23 in China

30% Acceptance

65,638 Enrollment

1924 Founded

96

Japan | Sapporo

Hokkaido University

For Applied Physics

#34 in Asia #8 in Japan

27% Acceptance

17,770 Enrollment

1918 Founded

97

China | Chengdu

Sichuan University

For Applied Physics

#35 in Asia #24 in China

37% Acceptance

44,200 Enrollment

1896 Founded

98

Israel | Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv University

For Applied Physics

#36 in Asia #1 in Israel

44% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1956 Founded

99

United States | New York State

Columbia University

For Applied Physics

#42 in North America #40 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1754 Founded

100

United States | Ohio

Case Western Reserve University

For Applied Physics

#43 in North America #41 in United States

37% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1826 Founded

100 Best Universities in the World for Applied Physics

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